Love*

In our recent studies in I Corinthians chapters 12, 13, 14, one thing came thru loud and clear. Charity or love is so important in everything we do. these Spiritual Gifts mean nothing if they are not used in love. The 13th chapter says it over and over again, "and have not charity, I am nothing", " it profiteth me nothing."  and verse 4 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up, 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth; 7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."  Without charity or love the spiritual gifts are meaningless. In thinking about this and telling about Brother Kruckenburg paying me a nickel to sit with him in church,  his actions were not for himself. He was thinking of others. He took an active 4 to 6-year-old under his wing in the church to make it easier for others. He helped my parents who had their hands full with other kids. It was a simple action that showed love for others. Love for me a little guy. Love for the parents who had their hands full. Love for others in the congregation so it might be less disruptive for them during the service. Whenever the spiritual gifts operate thru believers, be sure if it is effective there is love in the ministering. Without love, the gifts are meaningless. This nickel story is a simple example of how gifts can operate in love. I never thought of the nickel thing as an operation of service to others until we were studying these verses in Sunday School recently. As a little kid, I just liked getting nickels, and certainly didn't see the bigger picture. A missionary said when he retired, he wanted to just rock babies, and that's when it made the connection for me. And I believe that many times the gifts can operate thru us in very simplistic ways and we may not even recognize it. I have not done justice to the subject of gifts of the spirit, but I am just a blogger and like to keep it simple. I don't need to understand it all at once, but if I can just take a small part and apply it to my life, I have made progress. When I think of this nickel story, I wonder if I will recognize Brother Kruckenberg in heaven. If I find him, I'll sit with him awhile and thank him for the nickels. I hadn't thought about this in years, and I wonder what other blessings I have received. I wonder what other people touched my life thru the years that I don't even remember.  God bless, LVZ.